RIDGEFIELD -- When a non-poisonous snake sinks its teeth into you, it may be reluctant to let go.

That is, of course, why you should have a bucket of ice nearby -- or at least a faucet with cold running water -- when you handle snakes.

"Just stick its head in cold water,'' said Theodora Pinou, a herpetologist who has been bitten several times in her life. "The cold water will make it slow down, and you can get it to release its bite.''

Someday, they may need to rescue a pet snake or two -- not to mention turtles, toads or iguanas. The more they can learn from an expert like Pinou, the better.

The volunteers are part of the Connecticut State Animal Response Team, or SART. They are dedicated to getting the training they need to help all pets -- dogs, frogs, cats and rats -- survive any sort of disaster.

"It's no longer a matter of `Leave them food and water,'" said Ridgefield veterinarian Dr. Donna Cobelli, who heads the SART team for the part of western Connecticut that comprises northern Fairfield County and all of Litchfield County.

The program is needed. Currently, about 60 percent of the American population owns some sort of animal, Goldman said.

Cobelli said it's unlikely the hilly towns of western Connecticut will have to deal with a hurricane of Katrina's scope and fury. But the towns along the state's coastline might.

If people have to evacuate, she said, they'll head north, pets in car. The same might hold if there was a major disaster in New York City.

And there could be other natural occurrences in the region -- a blizzard, an ice storm, a tornado -- that could kill power for several days, forcing residents to seek shelter.

Goldman said the SART program, working regionally, promotes cooperation.

"Each town is protecting its neighbors,'' he said. "And it works for states, as well. If 500,000 people have to evacuate New York City, we'll be the host communities.''

Cobelli said the SART team has the supplies to set up an emergency animal hospital to handle smaller animals. Horses and ponies could find shelter in area barns.

Most of its concentration has been on the warm-blooded pets most people have -- dogs , cats, birds and guinea pigs. So Pinou's lecture was valuable as a reminder to the SART team that it may have to build a few terrariums.

"Frogs are very common pets,'' she said. "Turtles are common. They make very good pets and people like them.''

She also urged the SART team to have some terrariums with heat lamps and tight lids for snakes.